CYR Family Inaugural Blog
This will be the inaugural blog for the Cyr Family Charitable Fund. Instead of talking about ourselves, it’s only appropriate that we talk about those less fortunate and in need of our support, help and assistance, because in order to help those people, we decided to give to these organizations. While not in any particular order, we simply want to showcase the causes that someone else decided to dedicate time, effort and dollars, and we collectively decided to help them, help others. The one area I do want to identify is Orthopaedic and Spine Institute Medical Centers (OSI) founded in 2005 by Dr. Steven J. Cyr and Mrs. Le Ann M. Cyr. , has made it possible for the Cyr Family Charitable Fund to establish a significant opportunity to give something back, and the following organizations are part of this effort.
First, let’s mention MedSend. MedSend enables highly qualified and dedicated healthcare professionals to serve spiritually and physically needy people around the world in the name of Christ. We do this by making their monthly educational loan payments while they serve. Without MedSend, these healthcare professionals would need to spend years working in the U.S. to pay off their educational debt before going and being able to answer God’s call to serve – and many would never make it to the mission field at all.
Next, let’s talk about the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP). The vision of the Wounded Warrior Project is “To foster the most successful, well-adjusted generation of wounded service members in our nation’s history. The mission is:
- To raise awareness and enlist the public’s aid for the needs of injured service members.
- To help injured service members aid and assist each other.
- To provide unique, direct programs and services to meet the needs of injured service members.
United Services Organization (USO). Throughout our country’s history, Americans have felt profound appreciation and gratitude for the dedication and sacrifice of our troops and their families. The USO provides a tangible way for all of us to say thank you, as it has for 70 years. The USO fulfills its mission of lifting the spirits of America’s troops and their families. Through the USO, volunteers touch their lives through an extensive range of programs at more than 160 locations in 27 states and 14 countries, and at hundreds of entertainment events each year. Thousands of USO volunteers do everything possible to provide a home away from home for our troops and to keep them connected to the families they left behind. The USO makes sure your help goes to those who need it the most: troops serving in combat, their families, our wounded warriors and their families, and families of the fallen. As a nonprofit, non-political organization, the USO is now, and always will be, about our troops. Wherever and whenever they go, the USO will be there, until every one comes home.
Upward Transitions Therapeutic Horsemanship (UTTH). UTTH helps wounded warriors and challenged children in the Central Texas area through therapeutic riding the lessons which are developed around equestrian skill development and progression. Learning to ride is the objective. While learning to ride may be the objective, in the process of learning to ride comes the therapeutic value. The long term goals may be physical, psychological, educational, cognitive, skill and/or recreational based. Therapeutic Riding Instructors are the primary professionals responsible for the design and implementation of the therapeutic riding session. The lessons can be taught privately, semi-privately or in groups of 3-6 students.
Tom “T-Bone” Bounds’ Teedoffatcancer. In 1997, www.teedoffatcancersa.com grew out of my 33 year old wife’s canceer diagnosis. She was diagnosed with Stage 3 Ovarian Cancer: average survival rate..32%. I felt so helpless and out of control of the situation as any husband would. I just wanted to “fix” it! That year, we had the first Teed Off At Cancer Golf Tournament (although we didn’t call it that yet!) with a handful of my very best buddies. Over the last decade, we have donated the proceeds of our efforts to local and national cancer organizations including Wings, CTRC and The American Cancer Society. For the last 3 years, we have had the privilege to be associated with the wonderful group of caring professionals at Christus Santa Rosa Children’s Hospital, specifically the Children’s Cancer floor. My 33 year old wife is now 47, and our story is happily continuing!
Hill Country Daily Bread Ministries (HCDBM) is a faith-based, regional ministry that provides physical, emotional and spiritual support to more than 8,200 people living in poverty in the Texas Hill Country. HCDBM is a hub of community resources, services and supplies that are delivered directly to homes by Mentors—thousands of trained volunteers from more than 170 ministry partners and agencies. In addition to food and basic household necessities, Mentors bring hope, encouragement and the message of Jesus Christ to those who need it most. The HCDBM process is designed to foster long-term, meaningful relationships between people in need and people who are called to help… family to family, neighbor to neighbor, a community united to end situational and generational poverty in our Hill Country.
Haven for Hope In December 2005 business and civic leader Bill Greehey watched a documentary on San Antonio’s homelessness that aired on a local TV station. Inspired to transform and save the lives of San Antonio’s homeless, Bill Greehey worked closely with Mayor Phil Hardberger and other city leaders such as Councilwoman Patti Radle and former Mayor Ed Garza’s Council to End Homelessness.
In 2006, just one year after Greehey’s initial inspiration, Haven for Hope was officially established as a 501c private organization. 15 buildings located on 37 acres west of downtown San Antonio was completed in early 2010. Currently the Transformational Campus provides housing and programming to over 900 men, women and children. Prospects Courtyard, an area of safe sleeping for the chronic homeless population, sleeps approximately 500 men and women per night.
Geneva School The Geneva School of Boerne exists to provide a classical education from a biblical worldview, to equip students for a lifetime of learning, service and leadership to the glory of God. Geneva School of Boerne is a classical and Christian private school serving students in grades K-12. Located in Boerne, the school is just north of San Antonio in the beautiful Hill Country of Texas. The school was formed in 1998 and began offering classes in 1999 to 13 students in grades K, 1st and 3rd. Today, Geneva serves 526 students and celebrated its first graduating class of 19 students in May, 2011.
Boerne Youth Athletic Association (BYAA) BYAA is part of the international network for “Protect Our Nation’s Youth” PONY baseball and softball leagues. PONY is organized around the idea that baseball and softball can provide an experience for youth that help young people grow into happier and healthier adults.
Sister Project “The Sister Project seeks to shine the light of Christ by aiding, assisting and encouraging women in need through the combined gifts of 100 women.” Women Helping Women -100 women contribute prayers and $1,000 apiece to help other women. TheSisterProject.org is as simple as that. Maybe we help a woman across the world. Maybe we help your next door neighbor. Women the world over are in need of a sister to reach out to them and offer some help in the name of Jesus. This organization can help you be that helping hand. Or we can help you reach out and grab hold of that helping hand.
San Antonio Food Bank (SAFB) SAFB The San Antonio Food Bank provides food and grocery products to more than 500 partner agencies in 16 counties throughout Southwest Texas. In FY2011, SAFB provided more than 50 million pounds of food. The mission of the SAFB is to fight hunger in Southwest Texas through food distribution, programs, education, and advocacy. Who receives emergency food assistance?
- 36% of our clients are children, under the age of 18 years old
- 14% of our clients are elderly
- 46% of households include at least one employed adult
- 67% have incomes below the federal poverty level during the previous month
- 8% are homeless
- About 22% of clients are non-Hispanic white, 7% are non-Hispanic black, 69% are Hispanic, and the rest are from other racial groups
